Chapter 9

Tangxiu, of course, didn’t take it.

Not only did she not take it, but she also reached out and took the bowl of water she had just poured for Du Xiangling, along with the teapot, completely ignoring her.

Du Xiangling exclaimed, “You won’t even let me have a sip of water? Is there no justice in the world?”

Tangxiu said, “Is that how you want to tease me with this?”

Du Xiangling said, “No, it must be that I just want to tease you.”

Although she could tell at a glance that Tangxiu wasn’t angry, and it was clear that the divorce was real, the Duke of Jiangxia had asked her to deliver the prescription. It was obvious that the couple weren’t as estranged as the rumors said. They were still in contact, or perhaps still had feelings for each other. Du Xiangling couldn’t help but tease Tangxiu with the prescription. It was a rare opportunity for such good entertainment.

Unfortunately, Tangxiu was completely unfazed, not falling for it at all. Du Xiangling clicked her tongue and threw the paper at her, then picked up her water and drank.

“It’s really hard to make you blush,” Du Xiangling said, finally catching her breath after gulping down three bowls of water. “It’s no fun teasing you at all.”

Tangxiu said without looking up, “Then go tease someone else.”

Du Xiangling said, “No one is as interesting as you.”

Tangxiu picked up the paper and looked at it. It was a recipe for a medicinal meal to be taken with the hot spring, specifically to treat excessive dreaming.

Most of the herbs in it were rare, and she had never even heard of them. She didn’t know how someone had found this obscure recipe.

Seeing that Tangxiu had finished looking at the recipe and casually put it on the table, not even bothering to put it away herself or call a maid to take it, Du Xiangling couldn’t help but exclaim again, “This recipe is very precious. I heard it took a lot of connections to find it. They wouldn’t sell it, only allowing it to be copied and taken away. Don’t tell me you didn’t recognize the handwriting.”

How could Tangxiu not recognize it?

She guessed that Chen Yue hadn’t come over these past few days, either because he was busy with his case or because he was busy finding this recipe.

He knew that her insomnia symptoms had improved, but she was still dreaming all night long. So he had specifically found this recipe for her.

Du Xiangling continued, “I’d say he really treasures you. If it were any other man, who would care if their wife slept well or not? They could just close their eyes, open them, and go out without having to deal with them.”

Du Xiangling had traveled all over the country and seen countless people and things. She dared to say that the Duke of Jiangxia was definitely the best man in the world. He was definitely devoted to Tangtang.

As for Tangtang’s feelings for the Duke of Jiangxia…

Cough.

Du Xiangling cleared her throat. It seemed a bit awkward to compare them, huh?

But they were married after all, so there must be some affection there. Du Xiangling remembered that when they first met, Tangtang had told her that the Duke of Jiangxia fit her ideal husband.

“You said you liked the Duke of Jiangxia in front of me,” Du Xiangling asked Tangxiu. “Don’t you like him anymore?”

Tangxiu lazily raised her eyelids and said nonchalantly, “You said it was before.”

Du Xiangling stroked her chin. “I understand. After a long time, even the most delicious food gets boring.”

Speaking of delicious food, Du Xiangling’s attention immediately shifted.

“I haven’t had the pastries from Zhengfangzhai in a long time. Will you go with me to buy some?”

“Now? Don’t you want to rest a bit?”

“I’m not tired. Let’s go.”

Tangxiu told her not to rush. Her dusty attire was really unpleasant to look at, especially for going out in public. At least she should bathe and change clothes first.

Du Xiangling resisted.

Tangxiu suppressed her.

With no choice, Du Xiangling could only grumble that Tangtang was so heartless and indifferent, and she went to wash up.

Du Xiangling was about the same height as Tangxiu, maybe half an inch taller. So, as long as Tangxiu’s clothes weren’t too tight, Du Xiangling could wear them. After she came out, she saw that Tangxiu’s closet was full of robes, with a few non-robe styles squeezed into the corner, looking neglected. Du Xiangling said with a look of disdain, “Your taste is so unchanging. It hasn’t changed a bit in ten years.”

Tangxiu snorted. “If you’re so capable, then don’t wear my clothes.”

Du Xiangling also snorted. “That’s not possible. Good friends have to wear each other’s clothes to be good friends.”

With that, she casually picked out a robe and put it on.

Because she had been traveling for so long, Du Xiangling’s skin had tanned to a wheat color, and her muscles were also very prominent, even stronger than some men. She looked at her arms, then at Tangxiu’s, and clicked her tongue. “It’s no wonder they say beauty is in the genes. Tangtang, your skin is so white.”

Her skin was as white as snow, smooth and delicate, like jade.

But even though she praised her, Du Xiangling didn’t think her own skin color was bad.

If she were as white as Tangtang, it wouldn’t look as good.

With the robe on and her hair tied up, her phoenix eyes were bright and sharp, her long eyebrows slanted towards her temples, and she had a very dashing and spirited look.

Then she looked at Tangxiu. They were wearing the same style of robe, but Tangxiu wore it with a carefree and unrestrained air. With the folding fan in her hand, her aura was even more pronounced.

Du Xiangling immediately said, “I want a fan too.”

Tangxiu gave her the golden nanmu fan she was holding and picked up a zitan fan.

With a whoosh, Du Xiangling opened the fan and strode out first. Tangxiu followed slowly behind her.

They got in the carriage, and Du Xiangling told the driver to go straight to Zhengfangzhai.

She had been away for half a year, and the places she had been to were poor, and the food wasn’t very refined. Now, she really missed the sweet pastries from Zhengfangzhai.

She was getting more and more hungry, so Du Xiangling couldn’t help but eat some candied fruit from the carriage to tide her over. But she found that while it was delicious, it wasn’t the taste she was craving. Du Xiangling could only regretfully stop eating and instead chat with Tangxiu to pass the time. When the carriage stopped, she quickly lifted the curtain and jumped out, not even waiting for Tangxiu.

Tangxiu didn’t call her. She let her run off like the wind.

By the time Tangxiu had chosen her pastries and paid, Du Xiangling had disappeared.

The maid who had been following Du Xiangling came over alone and reported that Miss Du didn’t want her to follow.

Tangxiu nodded, unfazed.

Du Xiangling had been a wild monkey since she was a child. If she couldn’t be found at the Duke of Xiping’s Mansion, she was definitely running around Beijing. It was harder to make her stay put and shop than to make her sit in a study and write calligraphy.

“Let her be,” Tangxiu said, taking a bite of a new pastry that the owner of Zhengfangzhai had given her, which wasn’t on sale yet. It melted in her mouth, sweet but not cloying. Du Xiangling would probably like it. “When she’s had enough fun, she’ll go back to the Duke of Xiping’s Mansion.”

Besides, Du Xiangling knew some martial arts and had a wide network in Beijing. As long as she didn’t do anything reckless, she wouldn’t get into trouble.

Tangxiu instructed someone to send the rest of the new pastries to the Duke of Xiping’s Mansion and then took her maids to go shopping.

It was already afternoon, and all the shops on the street were open, and there were many stalls as well. Tangxiu didn’t lack money, and neither did the people who served her. They could buy things just by saying hello. Tangxiu was always easygoing with her own people.

Soon, it began to get dark. Everyone had picked up a few packages, except for Tangxiu, who hadn’t bought anything. She planned to have dinner and then leave the city, otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to return to the estate once the city gate closed at the 12 midnight.

She chose a restaurant and was about to enter when she heard a voice from a distance, “Sister-in-law.”

She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Chen Yue’s younger brother, Chen Tiao.

Princess Consort Rui’an only had one son, Chen Yue. Chen Tiao was born to a concubine of the Duke.

Tangxiu often saw Chen Tiao greeting Princess Consort Rui’an when she visited the Princess Consort’s Mansion. Their relationship as brother-in-law and sister-in-law was quite good.

“It’s so late. Why are you out alone, Sister-in-law?” After exchanging greetings, Chen Tiao straightened up and asked. “Mother said that Brother is almost finished with his case. Didn’t he come to see you?”

Tangxiu thought, “Almost finished” doesn’t mean it’s over. A case that the emperor personally ordered wouldn’t be so easy to close. But she said, “How would I know?”

Chen Tiao smiled and didn’t ask further. He said that since they had run into each other, they should have dinner together. He would send his sister-in-law out of the city after they ate.

Tangxiu nodded indifferently.

Since Du Xiangling wasn’t here, she could have a companion with Chen Tiao.

They entered a private room in the restaurant overlooking the street. Chen Tiao asked Tangxiu to order, and she didn’t refuse. She quickly ordered a few dishes and also asked for a pot of wine.

Chen Tiao opened his mouth, then stopped.

He probably wanted to remind Tangxiu that her brother wasn’t here, so even though she was having dinner with her younger brother-in-law, it was better not to drink. But when Tangxiu looked at him and asked if he wanted to drink, he blurted out, “Yes.”

Before he realized he had said the wrong thing, the wine was already served. Tangxiu personally poured him a glass.

Chen Tiao: …

The polite facade that Chen Tiao had been trying to maintain immediately cracked.

He stared at the wine cup, his eyes filled with despair.

Tangxiu couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t drink?”

She should have ordered the wine after dinner if she had known Chen Tiao couldn’t drink.

It was his brother’s fault.

If it hadn’t been for the specific type of spring wine required in his brother’s recipe, there would have been so much wine stored on the estate that she wouldn’t have needed to buy any outside.

Then she heard Chen Tiao say in a heavy voice, “…I can.”

He and his brother both practiced martial arts. How could martial artists not drink? He only refrained from drinking in front of his princess mother.

That’s all right then.

Tangxiu raised her cup and toasted Chen Tiao.

Chen Tiao had no choice but to raise his wine cup and return the toast.

However, after Chen Tiao finished his drink in one gulp, Tangxiu across from him was still leisurely savoring her first sip.

When she finally finished, she put down her wine cup, and it seemed she had no intention of continuing to drink.

This time, it was Chen Tiao’s turn to ask, “Sister-in-law, you can’t drink?”

He recalled the few meals they had together at the Princess Consort’s Mansion. It wasn’t right. He remembered that she could drink.

Tangxiu said, “I can, of course.”

It’s just that the recipe required a small amount. A sip should be enough, right? She was prone to blushing when she drank, so she should be careful when she was out.

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Chen Tiao’s gaze fall on her, and he didn’t move.

“What’s wrong?”

Chen Tiao’s breath hitched before he said, “Sister-in-law, you, your face is a little red.”

“Really?”

Tangxiu looked up.

Her eyes, which had been clear just a moment ago, now seemed to be filled with mist, like a cluster of misty water, shimmering and sparkling. Her cheeks were also slightly flushed, making her incredibly radiant. It was unlikely that anyone in the entire capital could find someone as charming as her.

Chen Tiao’s gaze gradually became filled with admiration.

He couldn’t help but say, “Sister-in-law, you…”

“Chen Tiao.”

The voice that interrupted him was low and cool, making Chen Tiao jump.

He turned his head and saw the person who had entered the room. He was wearing a scarlet flying fish robe with an imperial-granted embroidered spring knife at his waist. It could only be Chen Yue.

The four-clawed flying fish pattern was bright and eye-catching. Chen Tiao was completely dumbfounded.

His brother had obviously just been to the palace to see the emperor and had come here immediately after leaving the palace.

And he, unfortunately, was having dinner alone with his sister-in-law, behind his brother’s back. He was caught red-handed.

When Chen Yue unfastened his embroidered spring knife and sat down next to Tangxiu, who was also next to Chen Tiao, Chen Tiao was completely stiff, not daring to breathe.

He wanted to explain, but when he glanced at Chen Yue’s face, he couldn’t even open his mouth, let alone explain. He could only wait for death, waiting for Chen Yue to speak first.

“You were just saying that your sister-in-law…” Chen Yue said calmly. “Say it again so I can hear it.”

Chen Tiao swallowed hard.

Brother, do you believe me? I was just going to compliment Sister-in-law on how beautiful she is. I didn’t mean anything else.

Brother, I absolutely didn’t have any designs on Sister-in-law, absolutely!